CLW’s Executive Director, Li Qiang, authored an article on the Diplomat titled “The Disappearance of Voice of America is a Failure of American Values”, arguing that if the U.S. government shuts down Voice of America (VOA), the biggest beneficiary will be authoritarian regimes like China. Drawing on personal experience, Li argues that VOA is not merely a media outlet—it is a symbol of press freedom and American democratic values. For millions living under censorship in China, VOA is a important channel for accessing truth and understanding democratic ideals.
Key takeaways from the article:
VOA is a window to the truth for citizens in China. Li first tuned in to VOA in 1981 at the age of nine, a moment that planted seeds of doubt in him about Chinese government propaganda. During the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, VOA’s reporting contrasted sharply with China’s state media, offering a clearer picture of what really happened.
VOA helped advance labor rights in China. During the mass layoffs caused by China’s state-owned enterprise reforms in the 1990s, Li used VOA as a platform to amplify workers’ struggles. By providing investigative leads and commentary, VOA played a key role in bringing global attention to labor conditions in China.
VOA embodies America’s soft power and democratic identity. Even in today’s tightly censored digital landscape, VOA continues to reach millions of Chinese citizens through the use of VPNs, shortwave radio, and social media—which sustains America’s influence in the realms of human rights and press freedom.
Weakening VOA undermines America’s ability to counter authoritarianism. With an annual budget of just $260 million, VOA is a strategic asset in the global battle for truthful information. Dismantling or defunding it would impact one of America’s most powerful tools in projecting democratic values.
This essay makes a powerful reminder: Voice of America is more than merely a broadcast—it is an essential instrument in a global battle over values.
To read the full article, please see: “The Disappearance of Voice of America Is a Failure of American Values”
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